Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the UK team trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath Sports Training Village today.
An arrival shot of Meghan.
An arrival video from Emily Nash.
The couple, who will marry at Windsor next month (yes the wedding is that close now) have been busily making wedding plans with a flurry of announcements in recent weeks. Reporter Omid Scobie revealed fittings for the dress are taking place at an undisclosed London location and Kensington Palace. Meghan managed to enjoy an under-the-radar visit to LA; she jetted off last Thursday to spend quality time with her mother Doria.
The Invictus Games is the only international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country. Sydney is the fourth city to host the Invictus Games, after London in 2014, Orlando in 2016, and Toronto in 2017.
The Toronto games marked a significant milestone for Harry and Meghan - their first official public appearance. Tellingly Meghan wore Misha Nonoo's Husband Shirt for the outing; the couple announced their engagement just two months later. Meghan opted for a relaxed look on the day, teaming the shirt with Mother Denim ripped jeans and her Everlane cognac tote. It's been interesting to see her style choices develop in recent months. She's been very much opting for a professional wardrobe with clean lines and neutrals.
The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will take place from 20th-27th October and will see over 500 competitors from 18 nations compete in 11 adaptive sports.
Prince Harry's inspiring Invictus Games have been an outstanding success, and it is wonderful to see preparations in full swing ahead of this year's games. It's exciting for Meghan to witness the trial stage; she and Harry will travel to Australia in October to cheer on competitors and potentially undertake a full tour of the country and New Zealand.
In fact, Meghan shared confirmation of the Australia trip. Omid Scobie reports "Meghan confirmed she'll be at Invictus Sydney, telling Michael Mellon (who competed in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball last year): "She told me she had never been to Australia but was going to this year’s event and really looking forward to being there with Harry."
Harry and Meghan cheered on hopefuls as they tried out on the athletics track and field.
The UK team trials are being run by Help for Heroes, with support from the Ministry of Defence, the Royal British Legion and the Endeavour Fund over four days.
More than 400 WIS military personnel and veterans are competing for one of the 72 places available on the UK team.
An interesting piece of information from the Palace:
The increased number of applicants is a testament to the success of the games thus far.
A video from the trials.
Meghan shared a hug with a lady who was very excited to meet her.
There was a terrific atmosphere throughout the day.
Meghan with competitors and their families.
Harry and Meghan caught up with Mark Ormrod. He was one of the stars of Invictus Toronto and looks set to take Sydney by storm. In fact, Mark's determination impressed Harry so much, he talked about him during his Invictus closing speech last year. "I told you to be ready to see examples of determination, that would give you power in your own lives. But I’m not sure any of us were ready to see Mark Ormrod, with a medal round his neck, hoisting his son onto his shoulders, and capturing the imagination of the world."
More on Mark's story:
Harry was very much in his element and looked incredibly proud as he watched trials.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with familiar faces.
People reports:
The couple met those taking part in the indoor sitting volleyball trials.
A great snap from the University of Bath.
Harry and Meghan with Kelly Ganfield and her family. Kelly, who is visually impaired, competed in the games last year and hopes to do so again in Sydney.
They were delighted to meet two-year-old Bethany.
Meghan wore the Babaton for Artizia Lawson Trench Coat (with thanks to Perth Fashion).
The $245 piece is described as "Tailored with exceptionally smooth, fluid fabric, the Lawson is one of Babaton's most-loved pieces. Their take on the timeless trench silhouette is updated with an open front and a cascading lapel for a more modern feel." The green hue is called 'monterey'.
Fittingly, Meghan wore an official Invictus Games Foundation polo shirt. You can purchase an almost identical Invictus Sydney shirt at Rebel Sport.
It very much looks like Meghan wore her Mother Denim Runway Bootcut Jeans.
A better look at the jeans on Meghan.
Meghan wore the very pretty Vanessa Tugendhaft Clover necklace (a great spot from the ladies at What Meghan Wore).
More from the product description: "Clover paved diamonds and 18K Pink Gold chain set with two solitaires diamonds."
And accessorised with her Vanessa Tugendhaft Infinie Promesse ring and £40 Catbird Gold rings.
Meghan's boots remain unidentified at this point.
Another great engagement! I expect we'll hear news on Harry and Meghan's attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting soon.
An arrival shot of Meghan.
An arrival video from Emily Nash.
WATCH: Harry and Meghan meet competitors @WeAreInvictus #MeghanMarkle #PrinceHarry pic.twitter.com/fuaTGwR5gg— Emily Nash (@emynash) April 6, 2018
The Invictus Games is the only international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country. Sydney is the fourth city to host the Invictus Games, after London in 2014, Orlando in 2016, and Toronto in 2017.
The Toronto games marked a significant milestone for Harry and Meghan - their first official public appearance. Tellingly Meghan wore Misha Nonoo's Husband Shirt for the outing; the couple announced their engagement just two months later. Meghan opted for a relaxed look on the day, teaming the shirt with Mother Denim ripped jeans and her Everlane cognac tote. It's been interesting to see her style choices develop in recent months. She's been very much opting for a professional wardrobe with clean lines and neutrals.
The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will take place from 20th-27th October and will see over 500 competitors from 18 nations compete in 11 adaptive sports.
Prince Harry's inspiring Invictus Games have been an outstanding success, and it is wonderful to see preparations in full swing ahead of this year's games. It's exciting for Meghan to witness the trial stage; she and Harry will travel to Australia in October to cheer on competitors and potentially undertake a full tour of the country and New Zealand.
In fact, Meghan shared confirmation of the Australia trip. Omid Scobie reports "Meghan confirmed she'll be at Invictus Sydney, telling Michael Mellon (who competed in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball last year): "She told me she had never been to Australia but was going to this year’s event and really looking forward to being there with Harry."
Harry and Meghan cheered on hopefuls as they tried out on the athletics track and field.
The UK team trials are being run by Help for Heroes, with support from the Ministry of Defence, the Royal British Legion and the Endeavour Fund over four days.
More than 400 WIS military personnel and veterans are competing for one of the 72 places available on the UK team.
The Invictus Games is BACK! A massive 451 hopefuls are taking part in the Team UK trials this weekend, all aiming for a place Down Under in Sydney this October. Get inspired 👇 and stay tuned... @WeAreInvictus pic.twitter.com/1uDV7guNyx— Help for Heroes (@HelpforHeroes) April 5, 2018
'This year, 45 per cent of UK Team hopefuls have never applied for an Invictus Games before, highlighting the legacy of London, Orlando and Toronto.'
The increased number of applicants is a testament to the success of the games thus far.
A video from the trials.
Meghan shared a hug with a lady who was very excited to meet her.
There was a terrific atmosphere throughout the day.
Meghan with competitors and their families.
Harry and Meghan caught up with Mark Ormrod. He was one of the stars of Invictus Toronto and looks set to take Sydney by storm. In fact, Mark's determination impressed Harry so much, he talked about him during his Invictus closing speech last year. "I told you to be ready to see examples of determination, that would give you power in your own lives. But I’m not sure any of us were ready to see Mark Ormrod, with a medal round his neck, hoisting his son onto his shoulders, and capturing the imagination of the world."
More on Mark's story:
'In the early hours of Christmas Eve 2007, Royal Marines Commando Mark Ormrod was out on a routine foot patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan when he stepped on and triggered an Improvised Explosive Device. Thanks to the swift action of the men around him and the intervention of the Medical Emergency Response Team he was airlifted via helicopter to an emergency field hospital in a desperate attempt to try and save his life. An innovative and dangerous procedure carried out onboard a Chinook helicopter en route to the hospital did save his life. He woke up three days later in the UK in Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham: Both legs amputated above the knee and his right arm amputated above the elbow. He was the UK’s first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict.'
Harry was very much in his element and looked incredibly proud as he watched trials.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with familiar faces.
People reports:
'Maurillia Simpson, 44, who injured her leg while training for Afghanistan, chatted with the couple after taking part in the shot put event.
“Every time [Harry] sees me now he gives me an embrace,” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s just something we do and I always tell him how much I appreciate him as a person and for who he is to us as soldiers and how gratefully we are for him giving us this as part of our recovery.”
Simpson says she and Meghan also joked about the windy weather. “We were talking about the weather and she joked about how British she has already become because she’s always talking about the weather,” Simpson says. “She said, ‘I’m British now. I’m totally British because I speak about the weather all the time.”
Simpson then congratulated the couple on their upcoming wedding and told Harry how glad she was that he had found support in Meghan, to which he responded: “Thank you very much.” Meghan added, “That means a lot to me.”
The couple met those taking part in the indoor sitting volleyball trials.
A great snap from the University of Bath.
Harry and Meghan with Kelly Ganfield and her family. Kelly, who is visually impaired, competed in the games last year and hopes to do so again in Sydney.
They were delighted to meet two-year-old Bethany.
Meghan wore the Babaton for Artizia Lawson Trench Coat (with thanks to Perth Fashion).
The $245 piece is described as "Tailored with exceptionally smooth, fluid fabric, the Lawson is one of Babaton's most-loved pieces. Their take on the timeless trench silhouette is updated with an open front and a cascading lapel for a more modern feel." The green hue is called 'monterey'.
Fittingly, Meghan wore an official Invictus Games Foundation polo shirt. You can purchase an almost identical Invictus Sydney shirt at Rebel Sport.
It very much looks like Meghan wore her Mother Denim Runway Bootcut Jeans.
A better look at the jeans on Meghan.
Meghan wore the very pretty Vanessa Tugendhaft Clover necklace (a great spot from the ladies at What Meghan Wore).
More from the product description: "Clover paved diamonds and 18K Pink Gold chain set with two solitaires diamonds."
Meghan's boots remain unidentified at this point.
Another great engagement! I expect we'll hear news on Harry and Meghan's attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting soon.